Correos, together with the National Mint and Stamp Factory (FNMT), has launched a new edition of its philatelic collection, titled "World Heritage," dedicated to the "Convent of San Esteban de Salamanca." The old city of Salamanca, a living testament to centuries of history, culture, and architecture, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. This unique heritage site combines the different styles of the Old and New Cathedrals, from Romanesque and Gothic to Renaissance and Baroque, including the extraordinary Plateresque style of the Convent of San Esteban.
The Convent of San Esteban has its origin in the Church of San Juan el Blanco, located outside the city walls on the banks of the Tormes River, where the Dominican community of Salamanca, who arrived in the 13th century, would have settled. According to records, this church was rendered unusable after a river flood around 1256. Given the chronological spread of its construction phases, the convent combines various artistic styles ranging from late Gothic to Baroque, although it is considered an excellent example of the Plateresque style. It contains two philatelic items protected in stamp sets and also a numismatic item protected in a blister pack.
